By Nasir Shuaibu
Stakeholders have raised concern over the absence of a formal referral pathway for mental health services in Bauchi State, warning that the gap could undermine effective treatment and continuity of care for patients.
The concern was raised during a roundtable meeting organised by the Better Life Restoration Initiative (BERI) in partnership with Youth Adolescent Health Initiatives and Counseling (YAHIC) Thursday in Bauchi.
The meeting focused on strengthening mental health services in secondary healthcare facilities and creating a dedicated budget line for mental health under the Hospital Management Board.
The ASPIRE project, under which the meeting was held, is implemented by Plan International Nigeria and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
Participants included Bauchi health policymakers and representatives of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), including its Department of Psychiatry.
Presenting an assessment report, YAHIC examined the availability of mental healthcare services at Bayara General Hospital and ATBUTH and found that the existing referral process was informal and haphazard.
The meeting subsequently recommended the establishment of a structured mental health referral pathway to facilitate effective movement of patients between healthcare facilities.
Participants also agreed that the Hospital Management Board should work with ATBUTH to train health workers in mental healthcare service delivery.
They further proposed selecting five secondary healthcare facilities for the pilot phase of a mental healthcare programme.
Speaking on the burden of mental health problems in the state, psychiatrist Dr Musa Dahiru said one in four adolescents was living with one mental health issue or another.
He called for greater attention to mental health services, particularly at the secondary healthcare level, to ensure early identification, referral and treatment of affected persons.
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